Back-band and trace hook.



APILIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913 Inventor I Attorneys JAMES F. BONE, OF ETHEL, MISSISSIPPI.

BACK-BAND AND TRACE HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed August 31, 1912. Serial No. 718,151.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES F. Bonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ethel, in the county of Attala and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Back- Band and Trace Hook, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in back band and trace hooks.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a hook adapted to be connected to and supported from a back band, the same being provided with a novel form of normally expanding trace engaging terminals, so constructed that a link of a trace chain may be readily placed in such terminals and be held therein against accidental displacement-so that the trace may be readily supported from the back band and not beeasily disengaged due to a slackening of the chain.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of means for detachably and adjustably connecting the hook to a back band, to permit of the ready adjustment of the trace relatively to the back band for varying sized draft animals.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combi nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawingFigu1'e 1 is a view in elevation of the hook attached to the terminal of the back band and supporting a link of a chain trace, dotted lines illustrating the position of the resilient terminals thereof when releasing the trace. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a modified form of supporting means for the trace carrying hook, the same being connected to a back band. Fig. 3 is a rear plan view of the hook and supporting device as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken from the pin engaging end of the device as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the hook having a modified form of supporting medium. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing another modified form of supporting medium.

Referring to the drawings, the trace supporting hook in all instances is constructed slmilarly, and therefore the description of the form as shown in Fig. 1 will suflice for the form as shown in the other figures.

The hook is made from a single piece of wire and is bent to provide theconnecting bar 1 having the two diverging portions 2-2, which are curved as at 33, it being a single twist and interlocked, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 so as to hold the terminals 4% spaced and yet with a resilient outward tension so that the hooks 55 will be disposed in separated positions to properly support the trace link L as shown, the terminals so tensioned as to maintain the link L with the adjacent links seated in the ends thereof so that the slackening of the trace will not cause the accidental release of the link from the hook.

The respective hooks 55 are curved in the opposite directions, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, so that the tendency of the links L to become disengaged from the hooks due to the elevation of the trace when pulled upon, will not tend to release the trace link from the hook, yet by so positioning the same and moving the terminals 4-4 to assume the dotted line position as shown in Fig. l, the link L may be readily placed upon the hook or released therefrom when desired.

As shown in Fig. 1, the connecting bar 1 is held within a looped end of the back band B, but where it is desired to provide a means for removably attaching the hook, the remaining figures are employed.

In the form of support shown in Figs. 2, 3 and l, a single piece of wire is bent to form the parallel gripping terminal 6 which is disposed to surround the bar 1 near one end thereof, the same having the parallel bar 7 extending above the bar 1 and terminating in bar engaging hook 8, both hooks 6 and 8 constituting a means for pivotally and resiliently engaging the bar 1 to properly support the hooks. The upstanding end 9 of the hook portion 8 is provided with the downwardly formed hook 10, while the upstanding portion 11 of the hook 6 carries the resilient rod 12 whose recessed or curved end 13 is disposed to seat upon the hook 10 and thusretain the bar 12 in one of the pockets P of the pocket forming member of the back band B. This pocket forming member provides a plurality of vertically disposed pockets so that the out- 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

wardly tensioned bar 12 may be inserted in either one of them to support the hook at various adjustments relatively to the back band B.

In the form of supporting device as shown in Fig. 5, the two bar engaging members 14 15, which are for the same purpose as the hooks 6 and 8 of the type as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, carries the inturned parallel bar 16. The hook 14: is provided with the upstanding terminal 17 carrying the downwardly bent hook 18, and the hook 15 is provided with upstanding portion 19 carrying the coiled spring 20 whose. terminal 21 is normally tensioned away from the hook 18 so that the recessed or curved end 22 of the terminal 21 engages the hook 18 to be held therein by such tension.

In the device as shown in Fig. 6, a flat piece of metal 23 is curved to embrace the bar 1 and the parallel bar 23 of the supporting device, the terminal of the bar 23 being bent upright as at 24 and carrying the hooked terminal 25, while the other end is provided with the upstanding portion 26 terminating in the long terminal 27 with the recessed or curved end 28, the portion 26 forming a spring to normally holdthe ter minal 27 outwardly and away from the bar 23, or when the recessed oortion 28 is engaging the hook 25 to hol the same seated therein.

The supporting devices as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are in reality safety pins and each one is so constructed and connected to the hook as to prevent any lateral swinging movement, but are pivoted so as to permit a transverse swinging movement which is desirable in a connection of this character.

By providing the respective outwardly tensioned terminals 12, 21 and 27, the respective supporting devices may be readily seated within any of the desired pockets P of the back band B, thus providing a means whereby the various hooks may be adjusted when necessary for regulating the height of the trace relatively to the back band.

By constructing the terminals 4E4 with the single bends 33, the tension of said terminals is toward separation and therefore as before described, the link L, engaged and supported by the hooked ends of the respective terminals, is properly held against upward movement and is at all times properly seated within the hooks 55, thus providing a means to prevent the accidental displacement of the trace when a pulling strain is placed thereupon.

Vhat is claimed is:

A hook of this character, having a straight supporting bar, two converging portions provided with a half-turn and terminating in two straight hook carrying terminals, the two half-turned portions interlocking and crossed to limit the outward movement of the terminals, said terminals having a normal tension to separate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. BONE.

Witnesses M. L. LANSDALE, A. L. BROWN.

Washington, D. G. 

